Jenni is a writer, speaker, and leadership expert committed to helping others lead from their extraordinary best. Jenni’s passion is to lead well and to inspire, equip and encourage others to do the same. She speaks at conferences and churches nationwide, seeking to help others develop their leadership gifts and lead confidently in the different spheres of influence God has granted them. Additionally, she consults with individuals and teams on leadership and organizational health.

How can we lead through the chaos?

As a leader, we’ll often see the problem and a potential solution and run to solve it. Looking at Nehemiah, he went to prayer first.

We need to remember that we’ve got to be willing, not just willing, we’ve got to posture ourselves to say we’re really going to seek God first. Because I need wisdom. I need discernment. Probably beyond my experience.

You mentioned that we learn a lot about ourselves leading through chaos. What else can we learn?

We can learn patience in leading through chaos. We learn that sometimes things take more time. Sometimes the outcome will be different than we expected.

There’s a tension that we’re managing as leaders.

We also learn to become more understanding of others. There’s people we’re leading and helping get through situations…

I’ve got a couple of listener questions. The first is Rick Thuele. His question is What are you currently reading?

Right now I’m currently reading a book by Parker Palmer called Hidden Wholeness. It’s a self-leadership thing. Kind of a spiritual reading on the importance of self-leadership and understanding who you are.

I just finished a book called Presence by Amy Cuddy. It’s about the power of being present and engaged with others.

Rick’s second question: What question or idea is rumbling around in your head demanding you to take time to think on it?

This is good. I love this question. I think it’s the question I’m always kind of wrestling with. Which is how do I equip and support leaders?

Leadership is becoming more and more demanding. We’re living in a culture that’s rapidly changing.

Lisa Anderson wants to know: When you’re leading and chaos creeps in, how do you take care of yourself?

So good… These guys ask great questions.

I love the spirit of her question. It goes back to the principle that we have to lead ourselves well to lead others better.

Usually, you need someone in your life that can help you recognize this. My husband asks me hey Jenn, have you slowed down? Have you observed things like sabbath and quiet? Disciplines that we have in our life when the chaos isn’t there.

I would say you have to know some of those things that are healthy rhythms in your life. And when those are slipping and you’re not being consistent with those, that’s a red flag that you’re kind of danger ahead.

Chester Goad would like to know your thoughts on the chaos brought on between reorganization and organizational change.

That’s such a challenging question. This will happen a lot of times. I think the heart of his question is as a leader he’s having to lead through an issue he didn’t have the opportunity he didn’t have a chance to speak into and he’s got to convince his team to buy into it.

I think a lot of us have been there. All of a sudden, I’ve got to put on a face and lead through something I don’t necessarily agree with.

I would encourage that leader to go back to their leaders and ask for more insights into why and how the decision was made. Can you equip me with a little more understanding?

What do you wish you would have known about leadership in your 20’s?

I wish I would have known earlier that leadership is all about people. It’s not about getting things done. Well, it is but it’s secondary to people.

Is there anything else you’d like to leave with listeners today?

I would just encourage all of you listening that you were made to influence in a way that no one else can. So, in your leadership seat, there are people around you who need you to steward your influence well. To have you lead well.

I say that to encourage you that there are people in your life that you have influence with that are looking for direction from you. If you can just steward that responsibility, you don’t know what God can do through it.

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